Energy Cos. Brace For DOL Crackdown As Worker Deaths Rise

Law360, New York (August 27, 2013, 9:42 PM EDT) -- U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez's recent vow to tackle a rise in oil and gas worker deaths is the latest sign that the Labor Department is stepping up its scrutiny of the booming industry, and it's a clear warning that energy companies should review their workplace policies and develop response plans now, before the agency knocks on their doors.

The U.S. Department of Labor is already cracking down on wage-and-hour law violations within the oil and gas industry: For one, it said it's engaged in a...